Method and apparatus for gapping slide fastener chain



' Jilly 1968 A. E. CARLILE 3,391,441

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GAPPING SLIDE FASTENER CHAIN Filed Oct. 22, 1965 mvsmox. 141/750 5 CARA/LE ,8 A BY A ORA/El United States Patent 3,391,441 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GAPPING SLIDE FASTENER CHAIN Alfred E. Carlile, Meadville, Pa, assignor to Talon, Inc., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Oct. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,813 14 Claims. (Cl. 29408) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus and method for clean gapping a given length of filamentary slide fastener chain wherein successive interengaging elements are interconnected by heel portions which, in turn, are attached by threads to the carrying tapes. The interengaging elements are first severed from the heel portions, after which a member, having a pointed end and an enlarged head, is passed close to the inner surface of each of those heel portions formerly connected to the interengaging elements, after which progressive movement of the member causes the enlarged head to exert a wedging action upon each heel portion and remove the same from its thread and the carrying tape.

The present invention relates to slide fasteners and, more particularly, to the removal of a group of slide fastener elements from selected areas along a continuous length of slide fastener stringer chain to provide intermittent gaps thereof free of elements.

One type of coupling elements for slide fasteners is formed from a continuous length of filamentary material which has been deformed into a plurality of spaced apart U-shaped coupling elements located in alignment with each other along a given axis, with successive coupling elements interconnected by successive heel portions. Each heel portion interconnects a leg of one coupling element to a leg of the next adjacent coupling element so as to provide convenient means for winding a unitary stringer from a single elongated filament and for anchoring the slide fastener stringer to a tape. A continuous filament having a configuration of successive heel portions located substantially transverse to the given axis of alignment and interconnecting adjacent coupling elements is commonly referred to as the ladder type,

Generally, in manufacturing a slide fastener incorporating this type of stringer, the stringer is first positioned along one edge of an elongated tape. Next, the stringer is secured to the tape, such as by stitching or braiding, with the spaced coupling elements protruding from the edge thereof and the successive heel portions disposed in staggered relation to each other. The resulting article, which is termed slide fastener chain, can then be stored in some convenient form such as rolls. Once an order is received for a given size or length of slide fastener, the leading end of the reeled chain is threaded to a given path through a cutting machine. The chain is then moved through the cutting machines such that coupling elements, at predetermined spaces therealong, and for predetermined lengths thereof, are severed from their respective heel portions. This operation is known as gapping; and, the spacing between adjacent gaps, largely determines the lentgh of the finished s'ide fastener. The gapped chain, which now has the coupling elements severed from the heel portions leaving the heel portions still attached to the tape by the stitching or braiding overlying these portions, is then moved to the next station where the heel portions which normally interconnect adjacent coupling elements are to be removed. These successive, separate operations are especially diificult to perform because the chain at all stations must be properly and precisely in- 3,391,441 Patented July 9, 1968 dexed relative to the mechanism that performs the operation at that station.

The prior art for celaning or removing the heel portions from the gapped chain generally positions the gapped chain at the cleaning station and then employs apparatus for exerting a force upon the severed butt ends of the heel portions, to eject the heel portions from the stitching or braiding. Hence, the gapping and cleaning operations of the prior art required two spaced apart mechanisms, the efiicient operation of which was wholly dependent upon the precise indexing of the slide fastener chain in the station of each mechanism. It is to an improved mechanism for gapping and cleaning slide fastener chain, and to the method of manufacturing gapped and cleaned chain that this invention is directed.

It is the general object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for gapping and cleaning fastener elements from a slide fastener stringer of the ladder type, in a single operation.

Ano her object of this invention is to provide a novel method of gapping and cleaning ladder type slide fastener chain for a given length from along the edge of a stringer.

Still another object of this invention is to clean the residue of gapped ladder type slide fastener chain from the edge of a slide fastener stringer without tearing or severing the stitching or tape that retains the residue.

A further object of this invention is to provide a ladder type slide fastener chain which has been gapped and cleaned for a given length, with each endmost coupling element of each gapped length severed in a uniform configuration.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention can be had by referring to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of ladder type slide fastener chain wi'h a portion thereof gapped;

FIG. 2 is a perspective schematic view of the mechanism for gapping and cleaning the residue from ladder type slide fastener chain shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross sectional views of the mechanism of FIG. 2 and illustrating the operation thereof; and,

FIGS. 5 (a to c), are perspective views, illustrating the progressive action of a gap cleaning needle on a given gapped portion of ladder type slide fastener chain.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown one embodiment of ladder type slide fastener chain made up of a pair of oppositely disposed stringers 10 and 12 normally intermeshed but shown as being spaced as short distance apart to better illustrate gapped and ungapped slide fastener chain. Each stringer carries at its lower end an identical ungapped continuous ladder type filament 14 located along the opposed adjacent edges of tapes 16 and 18 of stringers 10 and 12, respectively. The upper portion illustrates gapped slide fastener chain wherein the interengaging elements 20 are severed therefrom in a manner to be more fully described hereinbclow. Each ladder type fialment 14 includes a plurality of Ushaped interengaging elements 20 which straddle the tape edges and which are located in alignment with each other. Each adjacent element 20 is connected by a heel portion 22 or 24, in a manner such that the heel portions 22 or 24 are alternately located on opposite sides of the tape to which they are attached and in staggered relationship relative to each other substantially in the manner as more fully shown and described in Ruhrmann, US. Patent No. 3,149,387. Ladder filament 14 is secured to the respective tapes 16 or 18 by threads 26 sewn thereto in a manner so as to pass through the 3 tapes and about heel portions 22 and 24, or through a beaded tape 28 overlying either or both heel portions 22 and 24. It will be understood that ladder filament 14 and tapes 16 and 18 can be of any convenient length and preferably will be formed in bolts or reels of 100 feet, more or less.

In FIGS. 2 through 4, the apparatus for gapping and fully removing a given section of filament 14 from each of the stringers is shown. An elongated cutting punch is carried by a movable upper support member 32 which, in operation, is actuated in a manner to impart reciprocal movement to punch 30 substantially along the vertical axis. A pair of stationary elongated die pads 34 and 36 are located on opposite sides of an elongated groove 38 in a stationary lower support member 40. On the downstroke of support member 32, punch 30 enters into and is received within groove 38 in a manner such that the cutting edges 33 and 35 of the respective die pads 34 and 36 cooperate with the opposed edges 37 and 39 f cutting punch 30 to sever filament 14.

Cutting punch 30, as well as die pads 34 and 36 on opposite sides of groove 38, are of substantially the same longitudinal length. A plurality of equally spaced needles 42, having enlarged heads 44 tapered to a pointed tip 46, are disposed in two parallel rows on opposite sides of punch 30. The spacing between adjacent needles 42 and adjacent apertures 48 in die pads 34 and 36 corresponds with the spacing between heel portions 22 and 24, such that all of the heel portions 22 and 24 of a given length of ladder filament 14 will be in registry with the cooperating needles 42 when they are moved into their corresponding apertures 48.

In operation, a given section of ladder type slide fastener chain, which can be intermeshed (not shown) or separated slightly, as shown in the drawings is moved into position relative to die pads 34 and 36 on opposite sides of groove 38 of die member 40 such that elements 20 on stringers 10 and 12 are positioned immediately over groove 38 and directly beneath the edges of cutting punch 30. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when upper support member 32 is moved downwardly, cutting punch 30 will sever the head portions 20 of filaments 14 and eject the severed portions downwardly out of the bottom of groove 38 where they can be conveniently collected. Substantially simultaneously therewith, needles 42 will move downwardly and pierce that portion of the tape intermediate the heel portion and threads 26. In so doing, the enlarged head 44 of each needle 42 will cam the residue heel portions out of engagement wtih binding threads 26 after which these portions can be removed by any convenient means such as for example air suction. Thus, in one operation, a given length of slide fastener chain of the ladder type is both gapped and cleaned of residue prior to the next operation, which in all likelihood would be the operation for putting end stops in place.

As best shown in FIGS. 5 (a to c), the method and operation of a single needle 42 is shown wherein the tip 46 of the needle 42 enters that area of the tape intermediate the edge of beaded tape 28, which could also be stitching or threads, and the inner edge 50 of the U-shaped heel portion 22. As the needle progresses further, the tip 46 pierces the tape, in so moving, and pins the tape in a stationary position relative to the centerline axis of needle 42. Because of its special design, needle 42 will not tear the cords forming the tape, but in elfect will stretch apart adjacent cords of the tape to form and progressively enlarge an aperture therein. The tapered conical sections forming enlarged head 44 of needle 42 then slidably engage the inner edge 50 of the heel portion and exert a force thereon, which tends to cam the heel portion in the direction F relative to the tape to which it is secured, out from under bead tape 28. Further movement of needle 42 cams the heel portion a suitable distance such that the heel portion is ejected from engagement with the tape.

For sake of clarity, the invention has been described with reference to the tapes 16 nad 18 being spaced from each other to separate the interengaging elements 20 of the ladder type filament 14 located on the edges thereof as it moves through the apparatus for performing the gapping and cleaning operations. It should be specifically noted that substantially the same results could be achieved were the interengaging elements 20 left in their normal intermeshed condition such that the elements 20 would support each other as well as their respective tapes when cutting punch 30 severs elements 20 from their respective heel portions.

It should be noted that the die members shown in FIG. 2 can have a plurality of needles which are substantially equal to the length of the area to be gapped; or, the needles can be positioned in multiples of the length of the area to be gapped. In addition gapped chain can be progressively moved past a pair of needles or a plurality of needles which will act on the pair of oppositely disposed severed heel portions of the gapped slide fastener chain in a manner such that each heel portion is successively indexed under the needles.

In addition, the stringer can be, and most likely will be, indexed in a uniform manner relative to punch 30 such that the leading elements 29' and 20", as shown in FIG. 1, are severed in a uniform relationship to each other.

The above description has made particular reference to one embodiment of ladder type filamentary slide fastener chain wherein heel portions 22 or 24 are located on opposite sides of the tape. It should be clearly understood, however, that the invention is not limited to this particular embodiment but includes any filamentary slide fastener chain in which the spaced interengaging elements 20 are interconnected by successive heel portions, each of which can lie on one side of the tape with each heel portion secured to the tape by means passing about the heel portion substantially in the manner described hereinabove.

The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to an embodiment thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scope of the invention as described hereinabove and as defined in the appended claims.

In the claims:

1. A method of manufacturing a fastener element free gap of a given length in a ladder type filament fastener chain having a plurality of fastener elements with adjacent elements thereof interconnected by U-shaped heel portions overlying the surface of said tape and lying in a plane substantially parallel to the plane of the tape to which it is secured by means overlapping the filamentary material at a point located intermediate said elements and the innermost surface of the bight portion of said heel portion, which comprises:

severing a group of said fastener elements along a length corresponding to the free gap to be produced to separate each of said fastener elements in said group from its respective heel portion; and,

moving a piercing member, having a sharp point and a progressively thickened head, in a transverse direction relative to said tape such that said point of said piercing member enters said tape adjacent said innermost edge of the bight portion of said heel portion, and said thickened head to slidably engage the innermost surface of said bight portion and act thereon to displace said heel portion out of engagement with said means attaching it to said tape and eject said heel portion therefrom.

2. The method of manufacturing a fastener element free gap in a ladder type filament fastener according to claim 1, wherein there is performed the step of progressively advancing said fastener a distance equal to the distance between each heel portion after the step of moving said piercing member has been performed.

3. The method of manufacturing a fastener element free gap in a ladder type filament fastener according to claim 1 in which after the step of severing said elements there is performed the step of positioning each heel portion relative to the axis along which a piercing member is adapted to move.

4. The method of manufacturing a fastener element free gap in a continuous slide fastener chain according to claim 3 in which prior to positioning said fastener chain there is performed the step of separating said chain into two spaced apart stringers with the fastener elements of each located adjacent each other.

5. The method of manufacturing a fastener element free gap in a ladder type filament fastener according to claim 1 wherein the step of moving includes the step of simultaneously moving a plurality of piercing members corresponding in number to the number of heel portions in said group.

6. A method of manufacturing a fastener element free gap in a continuous slide fastener chain having a pair of tapes lying in a common plane and carrying along their respective adjacent longitudinal edges a continuous ladder type filament which forms a plurality of fastener elements projecting outwardly from the edge of each tape with adjacent fastener elements interconnected by heel portions overlying said tapes, each ladder type filament attached to its respective tape by means overlapping the filamentary material at a point located intermediate said elements and said heel portion, comprising the steps of:

separating said slide fastener chain into a pair of individual stringers with the fastener elements of each stringer spaced from each other;

positioning a group of said fastener elements along a given length of each of said separated stringers relative to a reciprocally movable cutting device carrying a plurality of piercing members located adjacent to said cutting device, with each of said piercing members having a sharp point, whose tip is spaced a greater distance from said stringers than the cutting surface of said cutting device, and a progressively thickened head;

actuating said cutting device carrying said piercing members to move towards said group of fastener elements;

first severing said group of fastener elements along a given length of each of said separated stringers to separate each of said fastener elements in said group from its respective heel portion;

inserting said piercing member through said tape intermediate said means securing the filament to each said stringers and the adjacent edge of each of the heel portions of said severed fastener elements to urge each of said heel portions out of engagement with said means attaching the filamentary material to the respective tapes; and

collecting said severed group of fastener elements and said heel portions.

7. Apparatus for producing a fastener element free gap in a continuous slide fastener chain having a pair of tapes carrying along their respective laterally adjacent longitudinal edges a continuous ladder type filament which includes fastener elements and heel portions, with each ladder type filament attached to its tape by stitching which overlaps the heel portions thereof; the apparatus comprising:

means at a first position for severing a group of said fastener elements along a length corresponding to the free gap to be produced to separate each of said fastener elements in said group from its respective heel portion;

means for advancing said slide fastener chain to a second position on a stationary support member having at least a pair of apertures located therein with the first pair of said oppositely disposed severed heel portions moved to a position overlying said apertures, reciprocal movable means adapted to enter said apertures for piercing said tape in a substantially transverse direction and for engaging the inner surfaces of said heel portions for displacing said heel portions away from said edge along which said fastener elements were carried on said tape and out of engagement with said stitching in a direction to withdraw the same from said stitches; and

means for progressively advancing said fastener chain a distance equal to the distance between each of the heel portions until the last pair of said severed heel portions are removed from said group of said severed fastener elements.

8. Apparatus for producing a fastener element free gap in a continuous side fastener chain having a pair of tapes carrying along their respective laterally adjacent which includes fastener elements and U-shaped heel portions, with each ladder type filament attached to its tape by stitching which overlaps the heel portions thereof; the apparatus comprising:

a stationary support member having a groove located therein with oppositely disposed apertures spaced adjacent the edge of said groove;

a selectively operable reciprocally movable punch for entering into and retracting from said groove in said stationary support to sever simultaneously oppositely disposed fastener elements from each of said pair of tapes; and,

at least one needle member disposed on each opposite side of said punch and movable therewith to enter into its respective aperture in said support member substantially simultaneously with the entrance of said punch into said groove;

said needle member having a sharp point, for piercing said tape in a substantially transverse direction at a point adjacent said innermost edge of the bight portion of said U-shaped heel portion, and a thickened head to slid-ably engage the innermost surf-ace of said bight portion of said heel portion and act thereon to displace said heel portion out of engagement with said stitching.

9. Apparatus for producing a fastener element free gap according to claim 8 wherein each of said needle members have a substantially circular cross section throughout their length.

10. Apparatus for producing a fastener element free gap according to claim 8 wherein said groove of said support is elongated and includes a plurality of apertures located on each side and said punch is of substantially the same length to be accommodated therein, a plurality of needle members corresponding in number to said apertures are disposed on opposite sides of said punch whereby a given length of fastener chain can be gapped in a single reciprocal movement of said punch.

11. Apparatus for producing a fastener element free gap according to claim 8 which includes means for removing the severed fastener elements and said displaced heel portions.

12. Apparatus for producing a fastener element free gap according to claim 8 in which the maximum width of said groove is substantially the same distance that separates the adjacent edges of said tape.

13. Apparatus for producing a fastener element free gap according to claim 8 which includes means for progressively advancing said chain past said punch and groove whereby a given length of chain can be gapped by succesive reciprocal strokes of said punch.

14. Apparatus for producing a fastener element free gap in a continuous slide fastener chain having a pair of tapes carrying along their respective laterally adjacent longitudinal edges a continuous ladder type filament which includes fastener elements and U-sha-ped heel portions, with each ladder type filament attached to its tape by stitching which overlaps the heel portions thereof; the apparatus comprising:

a stationary support member having an elongated groove located therein, with sharp edges extending along each side, and With a plurality of apertures spaced along and adjacent to the opposite edges of said groove;

:1 reciprocally movable punch having a length substantially equal to the length of said groove and having a cutting edge extending along each elongated side thereof, which punch is adapted to enter into and retract from said groove in said stationary support to sever substantially simultaneously a group of oppositely disposed fastener elements from each of said tapes;

a plurality of needle members disposed on each opposite side of said punch reciprocally movable therewith for entering into each of their respective apertures in said support member substantially simultaneously with the entrance of said punch into said groove; and,

means for actuating said punch member from its normally retracted position such that said punch member is moved into said groove and said needle members are moved into said apertures after which both said punch member and said needle members are automatically restracted to said normal position;

each of said needle members having a tapered sharp point for entering into and piercing completely through said tape in a substantially transverse direction to the plane of said tape at a point adjacent said innermost edge of the bight portion of said U- 5 shaped heel portions, and an elongated progressively thickened head to slidably engage the innermost surface of said bight portion of said heel portion and progressively act thereon to displace said heel portion in a direction substantially transverse to the normal direction of movement of each of said needle 0 members and out of engagement with said stitching.

References Cited 1 UNITED STATES PATENTS 0 2,989,751 6/1961 Scheurmann 2933.2 3,005,581 10/1961 Burbank 225-94 3,054,168 9/1962 Ruhrmann 83921 X 3,128,543 4/1964 Fasciano 29408 20 3,129,498 4/1964 Runnels.

, 3,225,430 12/1965 Fasciano 29207.5

3,245,136 4/1966 Taylor. 3,290,747 12/1966 Burbank 24205.16

25 THOMAS H. EAGER, Primary Examiner. 

